Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

TiKV

tikv.org

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit tikv.org
Spec score 7.5 #18 of 31 in Key-Value Databases

What it is

TiKV is a distributed transactional key-value database designed as a unified storage layer across nodes. It provides a raw key-value API and a transactional key-value API with ACID semantics, but those APIs cannot both be used on the same keyspace. The project says it can support petabyte-scale deployments spanning trillions of rows. Raft groups replicate data across nodes for fault tolerance, while horizontal scaling and rebalancing support changes in cluster capacity. RawKV also includes time-to-live expiration and compare-and-swap operations. The documentation lists Java, Go, Rust, Python, and C++ clients; Java and Go are marked stable, while the others are marked unstable. TiKV is self-hosted and Apache 2.0 licensed, with Linux, macOS, Windows, and API listed as platforms. Its documentation describes TLS for network connections and configurable encryption at rest, including AES methods. TiKV was originally created by PingCAP and is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation graduate project. The community page recommends Slack for general communication and provides a dedicated mailing list for security vulnerability reports.

Spec sheet

What it does
TiKV is a distributed transactional key-value database designed to serve as a unified distributed storage layer.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Integrations
The maker lists TiDB, Zetta, Tidis, Titan, and JuiceFS among systems built with or using TiKV.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Security
TiKV documentation describes TLS for network connections and configurable encryption at rest, including AES methods.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Founded
2016Read 28 Sep 2026 · tikv.org
Maker
The project page says TiKV was originally created by PingCAP; it does not state a headquarters or founding year for the maker.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
API limitation
The raw and transactional APIs cannot both be used on the same keyspace.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
APIs
TiKV offers a raw key-value API and a transactional key-value API with ACID semantics.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Clients
The documentation lists Java, Go, Rust, Python, and C++ clients; it marks Java and Go stable and Rust, Python, and C++ unstable.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
License and governance
TiKV is Apache 2.0 licensed and is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation graduate project.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
RawKV features
RawKV supports time-to-live expiration and compare-and-swap operations.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Replication
TiKV uses Raft groups to replicate data across nodes for fault tolerance and supports horizontal scaling and rebalancing.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Scale
The maker says TiKV supports petabyte-scale deployments spanning trillions of rows.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org
Support channel
The community page recommends Slack for general communication and provides a dedicated mailing list for reporting security vulnerabilities.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org

Plans and prices

TiKV open-source software Free Apache 2.0 licensed; self-hosted distributed key-value store Read 4 Oct 2026 · tikv.org

Every TiKV plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Offers transactional key-value access with ACID semantics.
  • Raft replication supports fault tolerance.
  • Supports horizontal scaling and rebalancing.
  • RawKV includes TTL expiration and compare-and-swap.
  • Apache 2.0 licensed and self-hosted.

Limits

  • The two APIs cannot share a keyspace.
  • Rust, Python, and C++ clients are marked unstable.
  • Self-hosted deployment requires operating the system.

Who it suits

TiKV may suit developers and infrastructure teams building self-hosted distributed storage that need transactional or raw key-value access. Its two APIs require a choice of API per keyspace.

Verdict

TiKV provides distributed key-value storage with replication, scaling, and both raw and transactional APIs. Choose the API arrangement carefully for each keyspace, and note the stability distinctions among its listed clients.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to TiKVAll alternatives →